Tag: Jesus is coming.
Sunday Rest and Reflection: “Priorities”
September 27th, 2009
Dear friends,
Greetings on this another day of rest and reflection concerning all God has done. Last Sunday night was marked by a deluge of rain that brought some trouble to our church building. We were replacing the roof and doing needed repairs, when about 5 inches of rain fell in a short time. We had felt roofing material on the roof, but it did not protect it from the heavy rain and we ended up with water inside the building. Many came to help with the clean-up. I am thankful that our church family pulls together in times of difficulty and redirects their priorities to help with our church building.
As I reflect on what God is saying through this time, I feel that He is gently reminding us of our priorities. Haggai, the last minor prophet we looked at this week, delivered a message from God about priorities. (Haggai 1:7-8) People are God’s priority, and He wants us to seek the lost. (Luke 19:10) Building His temple brings Him honor and He delights in each new ‘living stone’ that is added. We must be careful to assess our own lives and even our own church priorities. Are we spending more time on ourselves than on God’s priorities? Does it seem like we have a purse with holes in it? Are our crops ‘short’ because God is wanting to get our attention? Could it be that He is hindering our efforts because our priorities are misplaced?
God’s people listened and obeyed Haggai. (Haggai 1:12) The people feared the Lord and heeded the word from Him. God then stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, the governor, and he and the people of God began to work again on the house of the Lord! God declared that He would be with them and would bless them as they again worked. This looks like the standard ‘formula’ for revival in action!
“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land or send a plague among My people, if My people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2nd Chronicles 7:13-14
As God’s people, let’s be about the Lord’s business. Let’s seek to humble ourselves and pray and seek His face. He promises forgiveness and blessing! Have a great week of right priorities! Jesus is coming soon! The Glory of this temple will be greater than the former!
In His Love, Pastor John
Sunday rest and reflection: wise living!
Dear Friends, Greetings in the Wonderful Name of Jesus Christ, the only wise God! What a day to be alive and learning to know and love God! The signs are everywhere of the last days and God’s Word tells us to live wisely and make the most of our time as we see the Day of Christ approaching. (Ephesians 5:15-16) Those who are righteous will become more righteous and live by the Spirit, following Christ more closely. Those who are wicked will become more wicked, following their own flesh and the evil spirits of this world more closely. (Revelation 22:10-11)
As we begin a study of Proverbs in our daily reading, we are exposed to wisdom for successful daily living in this world. The proverbs were wise sayings and nuggets of God’s truth that would help to discern the right path. These truths were particularly helpful to youth and children who were beginning their walk through life. Parents were to teach their children wise living. They taught by impressing truth on the hearts of the young during daily meals, Sabbath day church gatherings, work, and sharing at bedtime around the fire.
Wise living always centered on loving God and obeying His commandments. This wisdom has it’s beginning in a deep respect for God as Creator and giver of life! The term used in Scripture is the ‘fear of the Lord’. Parents teach the ‘fear of the Lord’ by their attitude towards God and God’s house. Regular church attendance and worship is a good indication of a desire to live wisely. Daily study of the Word of God and prayer are spiritual disciplines that indicate a desire to know God’s will in order to submit to it and obey it. Wise living honors God’s Word as the rule of faith and practice. We treat it with respect and believe it is truth–all of it! When we cut out parts of the Bible because it doesn’t line up with what ‘science’ teaches or with what we want to believe, then we have lost our fear of the Lord and our ability to know truth. This is a dangerous place to be!
In the last days, men will refuse a love of the truth, believe a lie, and end up in damnation. (2nd Thessalonians 2:9-12) When we have no fear of God or His Word, a delusion of deception blinds us even further. We lose our ability to discern right from wrong. We end up delighting in wickedness and going to our destruction. Now is the time to press on to know the Lord and live wisely in obedience and faith. Jesus is coming soon! (Revelation 22:20)
Sunday rest and reflection–prayer
Greetings in the Wonderful Name of Jesus Christ, our coming king and eternal savior! “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!” (Psalm 118:24) It is a choice to rejoice in the Lord each and every day! Each day is a new day with new understanding of how great our God is! As we begin another week, set aside time to reflect on God Himself. Take time to commune with Him! Take time to be with others of like-precious faith who gather to worship, study, and thank Him in community! We especially need this as we see the day of the Lord approaching! (Hebrews 10:25)
We have been reading this past week about Ezra and Nehemiah, two great men in the history of Israel who relied on God and lived lives of prayer and obedience. Ezra offered praise and thanks to the Lord for granting him favor to rebuild the temple. (Ezra 7:27-28) Ezra prayed for traveling mercies for his party with all the gold and silver articles for the temple. (Ezra 8:21-23) After God brought them safely to Jerusalem, they met with others and offered sacrifices and thanked the Lord. Ezra heard about the unfaithfulness of those who had married outside of the faith and he again humbled himself to pray and fast and confess the sins of his countrymen. (Ezra 9:5l-15) Others gathered with him and they sought the Lord. God brought repentance and cleansing as they prayed together.
Nehemiah carried a burden for Jerusalem and it’s broken walls. He began to pray to the Lord about his burden. (Nehemiah 1:5-11) He had opportunity to speak with the Persian king, Artaxeres, and prayed again. (Nehemiah 2:4) God granted him favor and he was sent by this pagan king to rebuild the walls. He was given materials and money as well as willing workers. As he arrived, God gave him a vision and plan to put the people to work by families, assigning them personal responsibility near their own homes. He shared his vision and God granted favor! Prayer was offered to combat discouragement and stop opposing forces. (Nehemiah 4:4-5) Nehemiah armed the workers and encouraged them to work and fight for their own children, homes and families! (Nehemiah 4:14) He had a trumpeter near him at all times to sound a call to fight (or pray) when an attack might come. (Nehemiah 4:20) Prayer was important for Nehemiah and those who worked together to rebuild the walls. It brought a focus on God as the source of all help and a vision of God’s plan and purpose!
Take time today to praise the Lord, thank him for who He is, and enjoy sweet communion with Him. Do this for yourself and for your family! Meet with God’s people and pray and praise Him in community! He is coming soon!
Thankful for 2008 Journey!
Another year is almost history! This has been a year of many changes in our own family and its members. My wife is no longer homeschooling and can now spend more time doing things she wants to do. The oldest of our two daughters still at home graduated from high school and is now a freshman at college. She is adapting to being away from home and in a Bible college dorm environment. Our other daughter still at home is a Senior and will graduate in 5 months and prepare for college next fall. Wow! Time flies!
My own life has had changes too! I have met a large number of people in our city who are believers and some who are new to walking with the Lord. I have had the privilege of praying with over 50 to receive the Lord this past year! Our church family has grown with about 30 new members and lots more attending recently. I am blessed by each one and pray that the Lord connects them to our family. I have also seen a number of friends and fellow travelers arrive at their destination of eternity with the Lord. We miss them but must go on here with a permanent change. I am also aging and the effects of time and gravity make changes on us all. Some changes are welcomed and others must be accepted and adapted to.
On thing for certain: 2009 will bring change too! Some will experience new birth, marriage, love, friendship, and job promotion and financial blessing in 2009. Some will experience losses of job, loved ones, friendships, or health and strength. As we evaluate our past year and begin a new year, it is good to reaffirm our faith in God’s goodness and ability to work everything for our good. He promises to always be “God with us”! He has plans that are for good and blessing, to give us a future and a hope! This may be the year of the ultimate change for all believers–Jesus Christ returning for His Bride, the Church! I want to be ready and working when He comes! I want you to be too! In His Love, Pastor John
“For the grace of God has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live godly and upright lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope–the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” Titus 2:11-14